Sunset Boulevard at Musical Theatre West

Musical Theatre West's production of SUNSET BOULEVARD opens tonight featuring VALERIE PERRI as Norma Desmond (Eva Peron in the original 1st National Tour and Chicago Companies of EVITA; HARRY CHAPIN: LIES AND LEGENDS (Pasadena Playhouse) ), DAVID BURNHAM as Joe Gillis (WICKED, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (Broadway); LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, CHILDREN OF EDEN (MTW)), NORMAN LARGE as Max von Mayerling (THE WOMAN IN WHITE, LES MISERABLES (Broadway); LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (MTW)), and ASHLEY FOX LINTON as Betty Schaefer (National Tours of LES MISERABLES, WICKED; MTW Debut).

Supporting cast includes JEFF SKOWRON as Sheldrake & Manfred, MARC GINSBURG as Artie. And filling out tthe rest of the ensemble is LUCAS COLEMAN, PEYTON CRIM, MARISA FIELD, BRAD FITZGERALD, KARLA FRANKO, JUAHN GUILLAN, CAITLIN HUMPHREYS, WILL HUSE, TOM McMAHON, TIANA OKOYE, KIRKLYN ROBINSON, TRANCE THOMAS, and JOHN TODD.

SUNSET BOULEVARD is under the direction of MTW favorite LARRY RABEN, with musical direction by DAVID LAMOUREUX, and musical staging by JOHN TODD.

Is anyone going tonight? I'll be seeing it on Sunday afternoon. I am so exited to finally be seeing this again after seeing it at the Shubert over 20 years ago with the pre-Broadway Glenn Close run just before the Faye Dunaway firing which prompted the end of the run in Los Angeles. I love this cast having seen all of the principals in other productions recently here in SoCal.

Here's a good article about Valerie Perri who was my 1st Evita and tells why she is perfect to play the role of Norma Desmond. Can't wait to hear her sing "As If We Never Said Goodbye".

http://grigwaretalkstheatre.blogspot.com/2013/07/2013-interview-with-valerie-perri.html

For those on Facebook Musical Theatre West's page has some photos of what to expect with the set. Will be nothing like the original but what I see I like.

https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.polk.1#!/MusicalTheatreWest?fref=ts

Their cover photo is my desktop background; love it!

Updated On: 7/12/13 at 07:38 PM

Where are the pictures of the set? Who's Jeffrey Polk?

A little OT --

I wonder why this property has not attracted Hollywood producers towards a film musical version?

*The film noir by Billy Wilder was considered one of the classics of Hollywood - high drama with a touch of irony and a number of fascinating characters.

*The film is all about a slice of life in very early Hollywood, albeit not the very glamorous side of it.

*It is one of ALWebber's best musical scores, with some standout solos and other numbers.

*The roles of Norma Desmond, Joe Gillis, and even Max should interest some of the big names for a new version on screen.

Updated On: 7/12/13 at 09:38 PM

True, but the effect is somewhat dampened by the hideous and tacky sets & costumes. Wichita, what hath thou wrought?!

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The sets look too bright and cheery for what is supposed to be noir. I hope MTW compensates with their lighting.

http://www.lastagetimes.com/2013/07/the-sun-rises-again-on-sunset-boulevard-this-time-in-long-beach/

RippedMan, could you tell us what happened? Were you not able to attend the open call, was it too crowded when you arrived, did you get there too late, etc...

Updated On: 7/15/13 at 04:01 PM

https://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-MTW-Stages-Evocative-Return-of-Norma-Desmond-and-SUNSET-BOULEVARD-20130716

1993's rarely produced Sunset Boulevard is a flawed, somewhat boring musical play that satisfies best with the casting of an actress of great star quality as Norma Desmond, one whose face could have convincingly lit up a silent film screen. MTW has found its star in Valerie Perri, and under Larry Raben's strong, resourceful staging, Sunset Boulevard is 5-star entertainment.

Interesting that he finds it boring but yet gave it a 5-star rating. The original deserved ***** , but not this one. I give it *** 1/2 out of ****. I saw the 3rd performance with 11 to go and mine was the 1st of 2 for the day and I felt that some of the principals were holding back. I liked it, but I didn't love it. For me it was definitely the best of their productions this year and I'm certain that most of the Ovation Awards will go to this show.

Set is not great and nothing will ever compare to what was in the original production. Those type of grandiose musical sets are a thing of the past. The mansion's balcony has a problem for anyone going and sitting in the audience on the left side. There is a red proscenium which eliminates staging on that side. I didn't even realize there was an organ until it was mentioned. Many of Norma's antics on the upper staircase can't be seen from the left and I was in row J, the 9th row.

Brave Sir Robin2 there were projections in the original but not very many. In this production the curtain is used for projections from the movie in certain scenes such as the car chase along Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Blvd in the past and the trip to MGM to see Cecil B. DeMille. Projections are all the rage in musicals now, but for me it was just the right mix in this show.

The split screen effect you mentioned at the end of Act 1 was well-done. I wondered how they would recreate for me what was a mouth dropping moment in the original production.
For those that haven't seen the original here's what they did:
At the end of the first act when Joe and Norma Desmond are celebrating New Year's Eve Joe leaves to celebrate with his friends "The Perfect Year"/"I Had To Get Out"/"This Time Next Year". At the moment he leaves they lifted the mansion up and it was only then that you realized that the set was held up in the rafters. It lifted up far enough to have the party scene move in underneath the mansion. You could see Glenn Close walking around on the staircase while the partygoers were celebrating below. I can still see this scene in my head as it played out 20 years ago.

In this production the mansion stayed on the left side for Norma and Max to move around while a very very small party set rolled on for them to sing "This Time Next Year". The set was paltry and they were all jammed in a corner on the right, but it worked for me. I marveled that they managed to find a way to recreate a scene that I loved immensely the first time around and still do.

Cast was exceptional with Valerie Perri, my 1st Evita acting and singing the role of Norma Desmond wonderfully. She delivered her songs "With One Look", the finale "I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille" and the poignant "As If We Never Said Goodbye" which never fails to make me teary-eyed.

Handsome David Burnham was a perfect match to play Joe Gillis with his exceptional acting and singing! Loved his opening song in Act 2 "Sunset Blvd" and the duet, "Too Much In Love" with Betty Schaefer played by Ashley Linton Fox. She was okay but to be fair she had mic issues for the entire show as did Jeff Skowron who played Sheldrake/Manfred.

The standout in the show for me was Norman Large as the mysterious Max Von Mayerling. His vocals were perfection and his two renditions of "The Greatest Star of All" were showstopers. He got the largest ovation of anyone in the cast at curtain call.

Planning to see it one more time although it's mostly sold out for the remaining 11 shows. If I do won't be sitting on the left again.

Any questions ask away and no I don't have a photo of the curtain although it's a version of what they're using for their cover at their FB page without Burnham and Perri and not in blue.

https://www.facebook.com/MusicalTheatreWest?fref=ts#!/MusicalTheatreWest?fref=ts

Bingo! Those are the sets, the curtain and the costumes they used.

Another review and the photos here will match those in the link by wildcard but I think the cast at MTW look 1000% better in those costumes than those in Wichita.

http://www.stagescenela.com/2013/07/sunset-boulevard/

What is that hideous "With One Look" costume? I mean really.

I also like the Norma loses her wig and her mind thing, RippedMan.

Trailer for the production

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wirB2CJsENk

I saw the trailer. It was o.k. I wasn't too thrilled with the AIWNSG hat. It looked a bit too..Mamie Eisenhower at a White House social.

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